What are these books I read as a kid?

February 17, 2008 7:05 AM

Please help me identify several books I read as a preteen in the late 80s and early 90s. One involved four or five teenagers keeping diaries for school, one was about a girl whose mother was running for mayor, and one was about a boy who lived with his father, a 60s radical on the run! Oh, and one really bizarre book about a girl and her pewter animals. There's

Here's what I remember from each:

Four or five teenagers keeping diaries for school: one was the bitchy, perfect girl, one was the preppy nice girl, one was the dowdy, nice girl, and one was the mysterious boy with the shadowy past. There was also the bitchy girl's boyfriend. All very 90210. I recall that the dowdy girl and the mysterious boy get together at the end. Also, the mysterious boy has some sort of horrible family secret, but I can't remember exactly what. Oh, and I believe it took place in Connecticut.

Girl whose mother was running for mayor: I barely remember anything about this book, except that her mother was running for mayor of a small town and lost in the end.

Boy who lived with his father, a 60s radical on the run! Again, I don't remember much about this book, except that the teenage boy falls in love with this girl, and they go see a reggae band together.

Bizarre book about a girl and her pewter animals: lonely latchkey kid develops an alternative fantasy universe involving her collection of pewter animals. This one I read when I was a bit younger, maybe 9 or 10 and creeped me way out.

Ring any bells?

posted by lunasol to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

I remember reading a series somewhat similar to this in the early nineties, but I don't know for sure that it's your series. Each book was titled the name of the character who was telling the story. The ones I remember are Erin (she was dowdy, shopped at thrift stores and ended up with a mysterious guy) and Amanda (a basically nice girl who went on a date and when she refused the guy's advances, he attempted to rape her. She ran away but he tore her skirt.) I think the bitchy perfect girl may have been Charlotte, but I'm not sure; I also think two of the girls might have been cousins. The pewter animals seem familiar.

Because the book titles are so generic, I've had zero luck in turning anything up. Hope this helps!
posted by Polychrome at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2008

I can only help with one. My Mother The Mayor, Maybe.
posted by dseaton at 7:52 AM on February 17, 2008

The one about diaries is Absolutely Normal Chaos.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 8:11 AM on February 17, 2008

60's radical father w/son on the run story may have been Running on Empty. (Link to imdb.com page of movie of the same name; not sure if the book or movie came first, or if this in indeed the title of the work you are searching for...but it was a decent movie, IIRC)
posted by mosk at 11:22 AM on February 17, 2008

The first one sounds like Among Friends, by Caroline Cooney. I had a copy of it back in the day; the cover was lavender and pictured several girls grouped together, with the ringleader, Jennie Quint, at front and center.
posted by Powerful Religious Baby at 11:53 AM on February 17, 2008

I'm 99% sure the first book is indeed "Among Friends."
posted by hazelshade at 12:18 PM on February 17, 2008

Response by poster: Yes! Among Friends is right. God, I loved that book in all its trashiness. My Mother the Mayor, Maybe also seems right.

As for the 60s radical book, it wasn't Running On Empty, but hey, didn't know that was a book, maybe I'll read it.

Thanks Mefites - any thoughts on the last two?
posted by lunasol at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2008

The last one sounds like Good-Bye Pink Pig.
posted by Flannery Culp at 12:40 PM on February 17, 2008

Seconding Good-Bye Pink Pig.
posted by Stacey at 12:43 PM on February 17, 2008